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| J&K's 669 MW hydroelectric projects 'ill-planned'? | | Power Ministry caught napping! | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, June 18: Incapacity of respective state government to take to task companies involved in projects planning, construction and operation of hydroelectric projects across Jammu and Kashmir has led both to avoidable delays and cost escalation.
Respective power ministers have seemingly kept onus on revenue collection, transformer replacement and other minor issues. They have hardly sought answers for projects being located in areas which are seismically active and where natural disasters including flashfloods have stuck repeatedly. The focus has remained on job creation.
Four hydroelectric projects with combined capacity of 669 MW which are at various stages of construction showcase abysmal planning by the companies involved alongwith lack of effective monitoring at state government level. 240 megawatt Uri-II hydroelectric project which is likely to be completed by March 2013 bore brunt of earthquake which stuck Uri and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) on October 8, 2005.
This was followed by flash floods in March 2007, May 2010 and September 2011 which resulted in washing away of the coffer dams. A massive slide on the right side of newly constructed dam was reported in January 2008. Construction of project also got affected due to widening of National Highway IA by Border Roads Organization (BRO).
If this was not enough, a bridge being constructed over river Jhelum collapsed in November 2008 followed by over-topping of dam on April 17, 2011 due to persistent rainfall and snowfall in May 2011. Though company is yet to give reasons but there is delay in the completion of down stream civil works. Hindustan Construction Corporation (HCC) which is carrying out major civil works is facing cash flow crunch.
Adverse weather conditions have made working tougher. There was also a local agitation for getting jobs which led to stoppage of works on all fronts from March 19, 2012. 44 MW Chutak hydroelectric project has been facing similar issues. First, the project is located at a place which is located in extreme cold climate and high altitude. Thereafter, there was unnecessary delay in awarding of engineering and mechanical works.
This was due to poor participation and re-tendering. Unit-I and Unit-II were synchronized on November 6, 2011 and March 26, 2012 respectively but could not be commissioned due to insufficient load. They have requested state power department to provide full load. 45 MW Nimoo Bazgoo is facing similar constraints. The project is being constructed in an area which faces extreme cold conditions.
Even engineering and mechanical works got delayed due to poor participation and re- tendering. 330 megawatt Kishanganga Hydroelectric project is located in a seismically active zone. Poor geology in access tunnel has already affected the progress. Besides this, Chenab River is known to be highly silt laden river and there are frequent events of landslides, increasing the siltation rates.
Construction of so many mega projects on the same river which include Salal, Baglihar, Dulhasti and Sawalakote is also adding to the silt load of the river. A recent paper on tunneling experience at Baglihar has revealed that the rock quality at Baglihar site ranges from poor to very poor to extremely poor. A report of an international organization has stressed that huge silt load of river means that the projects' useful life will be very low.
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